 "Photo: I.D. Weeks Library Archives")
 "Photo: Hillarie Maddox")
A small chapel that sits on a campus may not mean much to those who pass by, but Danforth Chapel was built on determination, stubbornness and a dream.
The Danforth Chapel has been on USD's campus for more than 40 years, and few people seem to know much about it.
One USD student group, Taize, has been holding their candlelight prayer services there for nine years.
"It's a different kind of church with a nice intimacy," said Steve Miller, senior pastor of the United Church of Christ, which holds Taize. "It's a wonderful place to sing, and it has a nice feeling and spirit."
According to USD Archives, a Committee on Religion and Education from Washington explored religious involvements on campuses across the nation in the 1950s. This sparked interest in building a church and a contribution from the Danforth Foundation to build a chapel that would include all denominations on USD's campus.
William H. Danforth, founder of Ralston Purina Company, established the Danforth Foundation along with his wife in 1927. Correspondence between then USD President I.D. Weeks and Danforth reveals Danforth offered to give the university a gift of $5,000 to help fund a new chapel.
"Since I know South Dakota so well because of my pheasant hunts and contacts ... it is one of the heights of my ambition to have a Danforth chapel on each of your campuses," Danforth wrote in 1953.
"I know of your interest in South Dakota and nothing would be more fitting as a manifestation of your interest as a chapel on the university campus," Weeks wrote.
An architectural plan was drawn up by Danforth's grandson, William Danforth Compton. Weeks thought the initial plan was too modern.
A period of of disagreements about the style between Weeks and Compton ended, and the initial style Weeks wanted was drawn up and selected.
After months of debating on when the church would begin construction, Danforth offered Weeks $2,500 more if the church could be up by Commencement 1954.
Besides the $7,500 that came from the Danforth Foundation, money drives and private donations helped fund the building of the chapel. To show his gratitude, Weeks wrote each and every donor a thank you letter.
This additional money kick started the construction process.
After weather delays, the chapel was dedicated during a ceremony in Slagle Hall, with Danforth in attendance, on May 9, 1954.
The final cost of the church was nearly $30,000.
Danforth died in 1956, but since establishing the foundation it has helped fund the building of 24 meditation chapels on college campuses and hospitals throughout the United States, many of them named "Danforth Chapel."
Since then, the chapel on campus has been used for weddings and various religious services, but has more often stood empty.
Anne Tereshinski, coordinator of Event Planning, said she has not had any requests to use the chapel in the six months she has held the position, and said currently the chapel is free to use.
Tereshinski said she has had two inquiries from alumni wanting to use the church, but nothing definitely planned in the near future.
Freshmen Mikayla Dunfee and Matt Forcella both use the chapel, Dunfee for Taize, and Forcella for fraternity meetings.
"I like it (the chapel), it's a good central location," Forcella said.
Dunfee said if worship services were held there, she would attend.
"It's one of those sacred spots, I think people race by and don't know it's here," Miller said.
Reach reporter Beth Wischmeyer at Beth.Wischmeyer@usd.edu.
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